Balancing work & your kids’ summer schedule
Those of us with school-age kids share similar challenges as summer approaches. Sure, we’ve already lined up camps and activities, but the schedule is different, and routines are changing. It’s not business as usual at home, which means it’s hard to keep it business as usual at work.
Summer is supposed to be fun, and we can probably agree that’s what we want! So we’ve put together some tips to help reduce the overwhelm that can come from trying to juggle your business or job and your kids’ summer schedule.
8 ideas for better work-life balance when kids are out of school
1. Team up
Connect with friends and neighbours and offer to support each other. If you have kids in the same summer program, split the driving. If your kids are at home some days, plan playdates, and do your share by hosting at your home too. Find people you can call when you’re in a jam and be the person others can call when they need help. And if you have a spouse, make sure you’re on the same page in terms of how you’d like the summer to go and how you can help each other. It takes a village, as they say.
2. Change your expectations
Do you expect yourself to be all the things all the time? Having unrealistic expectations can lead to burnout. If you find yourself unable to enjoy the present moment because you’re always looking to what’s next, it might be worth spending some time thinking about whether you’re asking too much of yourself and what you can let go.
3. Give a preteen an opportunity
If you work from home and have your kids around through the summer, consider finding a preteen in your community who is interested in getting started with babysitting. You can have them at your home playing with your kids while you work in your home office. Start with a few hours a day to see how it goes.
4. Have a weekly plan
When we have a lot on the go, taking some time to plan how to get the necessary things done can provide peace of mind. Try spending 15 minutes on Sunday slotting your to-dos into your calendar. Some people find it helpful to start by adding meetings, drop-offs and appointments — things you can’t miss — to the schedule first. Now, make a list of everything else you want to get done. You could divide it by personal items for you or your family, plus work items. Then add the items from your list to the calendar. With a little planning, you can get to the things you want to do for you, like your workout!
5. Food prep
Little things like packing lunches or having snacks to serve can suck time if you’re starting from scratch every day. Try batch cooking for quick summer meals. Keep containers of pre-chopped veggies and fruit in the fridge. Pre-wash lettuce for salads. Barbeque extra meat or portabello mushrooms to chop for ready salad toppers.
6. Order groceries online
If you haven’t tried ordering groceries to pick up or have delivered, the busy summer months might be a good time to start. As a bonus, you’ll be less likely to impulse buy snacks and other food. Plus, you can save your order to speed up the process the next week.
7. Pre-pack summer fun kits
With some simple prep, you can be ready for impromptu beach visits, picnics or other summer activities. Grab a storage bin and fill it with what you’ll need for whatever fun you stumble upon. Include a change of clothes for everyone, bathing suits, towels, a blanket, sunscreen and bug spray. Alternatively, you can keep what-to-bring checklists in your phone for easy packing, so you’re not adding to your cognitive load each time you need to prep for an outing.
8. Give yourself a break
When we judge ourselves or others by how much we’re able to do in a day, we perpetuate an unhealthy culture. So, start with compassion for yourself, your kids and other people. Recognize we are all doing the best we can. Notice when judgemental thoughts creep into your mind or when you’re comparing yourself to others. This awareness will help you refocus on the present and what is important and essential in your life.
These tips can help even if you don’t have kids!
We all face challenges in life, whether we have kids or not. We could be dealing with a health issue, supporting a loved one, giving our time to volunteer causes or even caring for animals. Our work lives aren’t our whole lives. And it helps no one when we walk around wearing a super-human mask — after all, we’re all in this together.
At [inn]space, we don’t buy into the all work, no play mentality. That’s why we look for ways to enhance our guests’ well-being through amenities. Our guests can access our time-saving drycleaning service, relaxing on-site massage and our energy-boosting snack cart. And we always welcome suggestions for new ways to help!